No. 14 Bentley holds off men's basketball
SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts – The American International College men's basketball team had a solid showing in a 78-64 setback against No. 14 Bentley University in Northeast-10 Conference play on Saturday, January 7.
AIC drops to 4-12 overall and 2-6 in the NE10.
The Falcons quickly pulled out to a double-digit lead, going up 15-4 after a Mason Webb three a little over five minutes into the game, and extended that lead to as much as 18 midway through the period. The Yellow Jackets chipped away a bit, pulling to within 40-28 at halftime.
Bentley scored the first six points of the half and threatened to run away, but the Yellow Jackets countered with a 13-2 run to cut the deficit back to 48-41 before Bentley scored. The teams traded threes, with Buka Peikrishvili bringing AIC within six before the Falcons regained control, and Jack Hall hit a deep shot again to close the gap, but Bentley countered with a pair of triples to force an AIC timeout with 11:16 left.
AIC kept fighting closing back within eight as Jalen Jordan slammed back a rebound of a Justice Ellison shot, and then Ellison also hit the hoop, forcing Bentley to stop play with 5:16 remaining and the lead just 68-62. The Falcons defense locked in, holding AIC to just one more basket to close out the win.
Hall's 15 points led AIC's offense; Jordan reached double digits as well with a dozen, and Ellison notched 10 as well as a team-best six boards.
AIC heads to Pace University to continue NE10 play on Tuesday, January 10.